PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

ksing44 · #7 07-14-2003, 07:51 AM

H&Rs on an S500 must be awesome. For my car, a 1995 E320, there may be at least three different types of H&R springs available. I think they range from a kind of progressive spring with just a bit of lowering, like the Eibachs, to extremely stiff springs with dramatic lowering that was made for the track. If I had to guess, I would say that an S500 should have been upgraded to the less severe springs, since it certainly was never intended to be track racer. If this is the case, I’m sure the HDs will work just fine. Everyone seems to agree that the damping rate of the HDs is close to that of the Sport shocks, so they will be able to take the punishment that a stiff spring will produce. Furthermore, if the S500 isn’t slammed, then the normal stroke length of the HD shock should not be a problem. I’m certainly not an expert and I have only used the HDs, so my point of view is one sided. I can really only say that I am pleased with my Eibach and HD combination.

I have read comments about cars being "bouncy", or "whoopta whoopta" with the HDs, but then again I have read that some people think they are too "harsh". I think I can feel what others may be referring to as a bouncy ride when driving on country roads, but the HDs definitely control rebound over big bumps at any speed and provide a controlled "squat" during hard cornering. I think the "bouncy" feeling is just part of the price you pay for the firmer springs, stiffer shocks, and smaller profile tries. It is all part of having more "road feel". You can feel every thing on the road. It isn’t a bad feeling it is just a fact. The alternative is a "harsh" ride. I know that simply riding with more air in my tires gives less bounce and a more harsh road feeling.